Closure device



July 12, 1960 G. R. PlPEs lETAI.

CLOSURE DEVICE R ma. am. MN Nm. mw .QM N ww f l x lllll Filed Feb. 2l, 1957 July 12, 1960 G. R. PIPES ET AL CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Feb. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lao" 22 24 v disengaging direction.

United States Patent 01' Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to =Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of h10V Filed Feit. '21, 1957, ser. No. 641,553

zo claims. (cl. zzo-ao) This invention relates to closure devices for pressuretype engine cooling systems and, more particularly, to closure devices of the kind having a safe-removal closure cap by whichk a preliminary venting of the pressure of the system is accomplished to prevent personal injury due to a too-sudden release of heated vapor or steam.

In certain closure devices embodying such a saferemoval closure cap, the cap is releasably connected with a iiller neck by cooperating lug and cam elementsl and a sudden removal of ,the cap is normally prevented by providing the neck kwith 4safety stops which are engageable by the lug elements for temporarily arresting or interrupting the unlocking or disengaging rotary movement of the cap. However, in such closure devices it is still possible to effect a too-sudden removal of the cap if the cap is manually held in an axially shifted position with the lugs thereof in a relatively clearing relation to the safety stops, while the cap is being rotated in the unlockingyor The present invention, as one of its objects, accordingly provides a closure device of the safe-removal cap type in which greater safety is achieved by preventing a too-sudden removal lof the cap regardlessvof whether the cap is being manually held in an axially shifted position .at the time of the unlocking rotation thereof.

As another of its objects, this invention provides a novel -closure cap having a diaphragm means adapted to`be x15. sure cap rotated to its unlocked position on the filler y engageable, respectively,

2,944,698L lvatgerrted .luly 12, 1960 ICC"` 2 c'ap has a diaphragm means and an inner closure means with axially spaced annular seats of the filler neck and in which ystop means effective between th'e cap body and the neck-restrained diaphragm means interrupts the unlocking or disengaging rotation of the cap body for temporarily maintaining the closure cap in a pressure-venting position on the iiller neck.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the `following detailed description and in the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which- Fig. 1 is an' axial section taken through a closure device' embodying the present invention and showing the closure cap in its locked position on the ller neck;

' Fig. 2 i's a similar axial section, but showing the cloneck and with parts of the closure cap in pressure-venting positions; 'K I p I Fig. 3 jis `an axial section with the closure cap in the same rotative position as in Fig. 2, but with the safety stop elements of the diaphragm means'andcap -body in cooperating relation `for interrupting the unlocking or disengaging rotation of the closure cap;

Fig. 4 is an axiall sectionV taken through the closure device and showing the closure cap partially removed from the filler neck; Y Y Fig. 5y is a side elevation showing Va development of the cam members of the iiller neck;

- Fig. 6 is a top plan view `of the closure cap;

Figj7 is al bottom moved from the filler neck and with theA cap body rotated 4 approximately 90 degrees relative to the diaphragm for Iheld against rotation relative to the filler neck during the locking and unlocking rotary movements of the cap;

A further object is to provide a novel closure device employing a filler. neck having locking cams and access openings aording access to such cams for the attaching lugs of the closure cap andin which diaphragm Ameans of theclosure cap is heldfa'gainst rotation relative-tov the neck by restraining means, preferably in the forni of lugs, engaging in suchV access openings.

4Stillanother object is to provide a novel 4closure device in which holding means is eiective betweenthe cap body and diaphragm means for initially locating Ythe ,restrain ing lugs of the diaphragm means in a. substantially aligned relation with the attaching lugs of theclosure cap.

Another object is to providev a novel closure device having safety stop means effective between the Vcap'body and the neck-restrained diaphragm means forinterrupting the Iunlocking rotation of the closure cap to prevent a too-sudden removal of the latter. Y

This invention also provides such a novel closure vdevice 'in which the engagementfor release ofthe safety stop means of the cap body and diaphragm means is responsive to a relative axial movement between the' cap body 'and at least a portion ofthe diaphragm means- The closure device 10can be used on any of various tanks It is also an object ofthis invention to provide such sheared portions of such cap body and diaphragm means.

Additionally, this inventionprovides a novel closure device of the kind above referred to in which the closure clearer illustration of the latter;V

Fig. 8 is ya topplan viewof the ller neck; Fig. 9 is a top plan view ofthe diaphragm showing the 'same in detached relation;

Fig. 10 isfa larger .scale edgef view of the diapragm taken as indicated by the directional line 10-10 of Fig.

9; and i v Fig. `11 is a larger scale sectional view taken through the `diaphragm on section line 11-11 of Fig.' 9.

As representing a preferred embodiment of vthis invention, Figs. l to 4 inclusive show a closure devicev10 comprising a tubular member or filler neck 11 andra closure cap 12 detachably mounted on such '.iiller neck.

or containers yadapted to hold fluid under pressure and ishereshown as being of a construction intended for use on the radiator of a pressure-type cooling system for an internal combustion engine.

The fillerneck 11 ishere shown as comprising a substantially cylindrical member having external and internal annular flanges 13 and 14 providing axially spaced outer and inner annular seats: 15 and 16. The-filler neck 11 is adapted to be mounted on the associatedvpradiator or tank Ywith the axial passage 17 thereof communicating with such radiator or tank through the central opening 18 or" the internal ilange 14. At a point between the annular seats 15 and 16, the side wall of the filler neck is preferably provided with a vent and overflow nipple 19 to which a drain pipe 20 is connected.

As represented in the development view of Fig.- 5, the flange 13 of the filler neck 1l is provided with circumferentially spaced depending arcuate cam members 22 and with access openings 23 between the adjacent ends of fthe cam members. ,The cam members 22 each carry locking elements comprising an inclinedlocking cam por- :tion 24 and an adjacent substantially straighty or hori,

plan view of the closure cap re- V portions 25. The purposes of the access openings 23 and the various portions of the cam members 22 will be explained hereinafter.

The closure cap 12 comprises, in general, a cap body 29 and a diaphragm means associated therewith and here shown as comprising a single resilient flexible disk-like diaphragm 30, The closure cap 12 also comprises an inner closure means 31 connected with the cap body 29 by an axial stem 32, and a spring means interposed between the diaphragm'3l) and the inner closure means and here shown as being a helical spring 33 coaxially surrounding the stem 32.

The cap body 29 preferably comprises a cup-shaped member having a transverse top wall 35 and a depending marginal flange or skirt 36. The flange y36 and the transverse top wall 35 are here shown as having laterally extending portions forming lever elements 37 on the cap body for assisting an operator in manually grasping the same. The cap body 29 also comprises attaching lugs 38 which are here shown as comprising inturned portions of the marginal flange 36 and which lugs are axially movable through the access openings 23 of the ller neck 11 for cooperation with the cam members 22 in a manner which will appear hereinafter.

The stem 32 provides a centering and mounting means for the diaphragm 30 and for the inner closure means 31 and is mounted on the cap body 29 substantially centrally thereof. The stem 32 has its outer end secured to the transverse wall 35 as by the riveted stem portion 39. At the lower end thereof, the stem 32 is provided with a head 40. l I

The innerrclosure means-31 comprises a cup-shaped hollow member 41 having la transverse4 top wall 42 through which the stem 32 extends and which rtop wall is engageable with the head 4t) for preventing separation of such inner closure means from the cap body 29. The inner closure means 31 also comprises a transverse bottom plate 43 extending across the chamber 44 of the cup shaped member 41 and mounted on the latter by means of tabs or fingers 45 deflected inwardly into an overlying relation to the flared annular Vlip 46 of such cup-shaped member. The member 41 has one or more openings 47 in the upper portion thereof throught which the chamber 44 is in communication with the neck passage 17 at all times.

The transverse bottom plate 43 is provided with a depending hollow stem portion 48 defining a vent passage 49 extending axially throughthis bottom plate-and through a gasket 50 lying against the lower face of such bottom plate. The gasket 50 is retained against the bottom plate 43 by an in-turned flange 51 of the stem 48 and has sealing engagement with the inner annular seat 16 of the filler neck when the closure cap is applied thereto. The connection provided for the bottom plate 43 by the tabs 45 permits the member 41 to rotate relative to the bottom platte, such that the gasket 50 can remain stationary against the seat 16 and be relatively free of any scufingaction.

The inner closure means 31 is axially slidable on the stem 32 of the cap body 29 and is provided with an annular shoulder or spring seat 53 which is engaged by the lower end of the spring 33. The spring 33 is effective on the inner closure means 31 to press the latter against the inner nseat 16 of the ller neck when the closure cap 12 is applied thereto and also presses the central portion of the diaphragm 30 against the central portion of the cap body 29.

fThe central portion of `the cap body 29 is preferably inwardly oifset so as to form a tapered axial boss 55 thereon. The diaphragm 3@ preferably also has an axially oifset central portion defining a recess having a tapered side wall 56 which is held in seating engagement with the tapered boss S bythe spring 33 for centering the diaphragm in the cap body.

The annular portion of the diaphragm 30, which lies outwardly of the tapered wall portion 56, is preferably of a wavy or corrugated transverse shape as shown in the drawings. The peripheral portion of the diaphragm lying outwardly of such corrugated `annular portion is a substantially ilat portion 5S for seating engagement against the outer annular seat 15 of the filler neck.

The inner closure means 31 is also provided with a check valve 60 comprising a valve member 61 and a supporting stem 62 extending through the vent passage 49. The stern 62 is provided with a head 63 which is located in the chamber 44 and is engageable with the upper side of the bottom plate-43 for maintaining the valve member 61 in a suspended relation adjacent the gasket 50. The valve member 61 is Vpreferably in the form of a dished sheet metal member having an annular rim 64 for sealing engagement with the gasket 5G when this valve member is lifted and pressed against the latter by pressure in the radiator or ftank to which the closure device 10 has been attached.

In the construction of the closure device 10 as thus far described, it will be seen that the closure cap` 12 can be applied to the filler neck 10 by inserting the inner closure means 31 into the passage 17 of the neck and by simul- -taneously moving the attaching lugs 38 through the access openings 23. By rotation of the closure cap 12 in a clockwise locking direction relative to the neck as indicated by the arrow 65, the attaching lugs 3S are moved along the cam members '22 and into engagement with the locking cams 24. This rotation of the cap and the accompanying movement of the lugs 38 yalong the locking cams 24, causes the cap to assume a locked position on the neck in which the diaphragm 30 is pressed against the outer annular seat 15 and the gasket 51) of the inner closure means V31 is pressed against fthe inner annular seat 1'6. j When pressure builds up .in the radiator or tank, the check valve member 61 is lifted and pressed against the gasket 5t) to close the vent passage 49 and to maintain the radiator in Ia sealed condition. When the pressure in the radiator or tankV subsides, such as upon cooling of the radiator, the check valve member 61 drops to its suspended position shown in Fig, l, thereby venting the radiator or tank Vto atmosphere to prevent the occurrence of aV vacuum therein. Y v

When the closure cap 12 is rotated .in an unlocking or releasing Vdirection relative to the filler neck as indicated by the arrow '66, the lugs' 33 are moved in a downhill direction Ialong Vthe cams V24 `and when they arrive at the dwell portionsl l25, the pressure of the diaphragm against the outer seat 15 is relieved and the sealing engagement .of thegasket 5t) against the inner seat i6 is likewise relieved. 'Y At this time, the closure cap 12 occupies a position relative to the filler neck-corresponding with that illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the pressure of the radiator or tank is relieved and is vented to atmosphereeither through the open outer end of the neck or through the loverflow and `drain pipe connected with the nipple 1,9. Y

:For safety purposes, the unlocking rotation of the closure -cap 12 -is arrested or interrupted by Athe safety stops 27 of the iller neck Vso as to maintain the lugs 38 in cooperation with the dwell portions 2S of the cam members -for retaining the-cap on ythe neck. vWhile `the .cap is Vthus retained on k.the neck inits unlocked condition, the pressure 'of the radiator is `being safely vented to atmosphere Isuch` that personal injury to an operator is not likely .to occur by reason of a too-,sudden and complete removal of .the closure cap-from the' neck.

From the `construction of lthe-closure-device i1@ as thus `far described, yit-'will-a'lso be lseen that when the cap 12has been applied to the filler neck 11V and rotated toits Y:locked position thereon, .the diaphragm 30 bears against the'external annular seat 15 and is subjected to ambas' load by being 4axially ldeflect-ed toward the transverse` top wall, 35 of the capbody 29. When the attaching lugs 38 occupy a position-opposite the dwell portions -25 of the cam members 22, the diaphragm isl substantially unloaded, but the safety stops 27 are still engageable by the lugs 38 .to delay the com-plete removal of the cap from the neck. The safetystops 27 are surmountable by the attaching lugs 38 and further rotation of the cap body 29 in the releasing direction causes vthe lugs ito ride overH the safety stops, whereupon theclosure cap 12 can be lifted off the ller neck.

From the construction above described it will also be seen that the cap body 29 is rotatable .relative to they diaphragm 30 during the looking and unlocking movements of the cap body relative to the iiller neck.` The diaphragm is held against rotation by the liller neck 11 by means of downturned retaining lugs 68 formed on the diaphragm adjacent the periphery thereof and which are engageable in the access openings 23 when the-closure cap 12 is applied to the neck. 's

In order that the retaining lugs 68 be readilytmov- .able into the access openings 23 when the closure cap 12 is being applied to the neck, it is necessary that these retaining lugs have an initial position substantially in alignment with the attaching lugs v38 of the cap body 29. The retaining lugs 68 of the diaphragm 30` and the attaching lugs 38 of the cap body 29 are inititially maintained in such an aligned relation by cooper'able holding elements effective between the cap body and diaphragm.

These cooperable holding elements are here-shown as comprising roundedprojections or bosses 69 formed on' the transverse top wall 35 of the. cap body and correv sponding concave depressions 70 formed in the upper side of the diaphragm-30 and in which such projections of the cap body are engageable. The locations of the projections and recesses 69 and 70 of the cap body and diaphragm are such that when the retaining lugs 68 are in substantial alignmentwith the attaching lugs 38, the spring 33 will causethe recesses 70 to be axially shifted into an engaged relation with the projections 69, whereby rotation of the cap body relative to the diaphragm will be normally resisted.

By reason of the rounded character of the projections 69, the cap body 29 can be rotated relative to the diaphragm 30 to overcome thel initial holding action 'of these cooperating holding elements. Thus, when the-closure cap is applied to .the filler neck with the retaining lugs 68 engaged in the access openings 23, the cap body 29-can` be rotated relativeto the diaphragm 30wto bring the lugs 38 into locking cooperation with the tapered cams 2'4and, during this rotation of .the4 cap body, theV diaphragm will be held against rotation on thev neck'by the engagement ofthe retaining lugs 68 in the access openings. Y j n When the cap body is rotated in the reverse direction to unlock the same, .the projections '69 are returned to a position in which .they engage in the recesses 70 of the diaphragm and the attaching lugs 38 are also returned to the location of the access openings 23 and an aligned condition with the retaining lugs V68y of the diaphragm.

When `the closure device 12 is lifted off of the neck 11*r the retaining lugs 68 of the diaphragm will, by reason of the engaged condition of the holding` elements 6-9 and 70, remain in the above-described .aligned relation with the attaching lugs 38 so that upon re-application o f the closure device in the filler lneck lthe aligned lugs will be readily'movable into the access openings 23. 1 In completing the removal ofthe closure device 12 from the filler neck after the lugs 38 have been moved inthe unlocking direction to a position opposite the dwell portions .25 of .the cam membersy 22, theV lugs 38 are movable past the safetystops 27 byrotating the cap while a sufticientaxial pressureis Ibeing applied to the cap body 29 to shift the, same toward the Aneck member 11, inV opposition to the expansive forces of the diaphragm 30 and the spring 33, `to locate the lugs 38 in a clearing relation `to these safety stops. To avoid .the possibility of a too-sudden removal of the closure cap 12 by an unlocking rotation thereof while the lugs 38 are being maintained in such a clearing relation to the safety stops 27 by an axial pressure being manually maintained on the cap body, the present invention provides safety stop means on the cap which is effective for preventing such a complete or uninterrupted releasing rotation of the cap body. This safety stop means utilizes the neck-restrained condition of the diaphragm'30 yfor interrupting the unlocking rotation of the cap body 29, as will be described This safety stop means of the cap 12 is here shown as comprising stop elements 711 on the cap body 29 and stop elements 72 o-n the diaphragm 30, these stop elements 71 and 72 being mutuallyV co-operable stop elements as explained hereinafter. The stop elements 72 of .the diaphragm are located adjacent the periphery thereof so as to lie outside of the lannular seat 15 and, as here shown, may comprise partially sheared diaphragm portions Which have been deflected upwardly so that the stop elements 72 areof a circumferentially tapered height and -wedge-like shape, as shown in Fig. l0, with the high ends of these elements .defining substantially right- .angularly disposed abutments 73 facing in the same arcuate direction.

The stop'elements 71 of .the cap body 29 .are preferably formed by partially sheared portions of the transverse wa1l` 35 vwhich have been deflected axially inwardly and j have a circumferentially tapered height and wedgelike which is opposite .to the arcuate directionin which the f j abutments 73 of the locking elements 72 face. The stop elements 71 of'r the cap body A29 are located at substantially the same radial distance. from the rotation axis as the stop elements 72 of .the diaphragm, such that when the cap body is shifted axially by manual pressure applied thereto to move .the attaching lugs 38 -to the abovementioned clearing relation to the safety stops 27, the safety stops 72 of the diaphragm will extend into the path of movement of .the stops 7-1 of the cap body during 'the unlocking rotation of the latter.

The stop elements 72 of the diaphragm 30 are located thereon in an angular relation to the retaining lugs 68 and the stop elements 71 of theV cap body are located thereon in an angular relation t0 the attaching lugs 38, such that the stop elements 72 will be engaged by the stop elements 71 substantially upon the arrival of the lugs 38 to a position opposite the dwell portions 25 of the cam members 22. The engagement'` of the stop elements 71 with the stop elements 72 at this vtime interrupts the rotation of the cap bodyin the unlocking direction, such that the cap body will be temporarily'v held against a full unlocking rotation bythe neck-restrained diaphragm 30.

In order to continue the unlocking rotation of the cap body 29, it is necessary that the operator first relieve the Y axial pressure being applied to the cap body to thereby Y permit an axial movement of the cap body in a direction away from the iiller neck sui'licient to disengage the stop elements 71 of the cap body from the stop elements 72 of the diaphragm. As soon as this disengagement of the stop elements 71 and 72 has taken place, the cap body can again be rotated in the unlocking direction to cause the attaching lugs '38 to ride over the safety stops 27 such that the closure cap 12 can be-lifted off Aof the filler neck. f

When the closure cap 12 has been applied to the filler neck 11 and the cap body 29 is being rotated relative to the diaphragm for moving the attaching lugs 38 towardv engagement with the tapered cams 24, the safetyrstops 72 of the diaphragm because at this time the rtaper of the safety stops 71 is presented toward the taper of the safety stops 72, which permits the safety stops 71 to readily ride over and move past the safety stops 72.

From the accompanying drawings and the foregoing detailed description, it will now be readily understood thatthis invention provides a novel closure device of thei kind having a safe-removal closure cap and which embodies safety stop means for preventing a too-sudden removal of the closure cap from the filler neck, regardless of whether an axial pressure of a sufficient magnitude is being manually applied to the cap to hold the attaching lugs thereof in a clearing relation to the safety stops of the filler neck during the unlocking rotation of the cap body. it will now also be understood that this invention provides a novel closure cap and closure device in which the cap body is rotatable relative to its associated diaphragm means, and in which releasable holding means effective between the cap body and diaphragm means maintains the lug elements of the diaphragm means and cap body in an initial alignment for movement of such lug elements through the access openings of the filler neck. Additionally, it will be seen that the cooperable safety stop elements of the cap body and neck-restrained diaphragm means are rendered engageable and disengageable, in response to axial shifting of the cap body relative to the neck, and supplement the action of the safety stops `of the ller neck in effectively interrupting the unlocking rotation of the cap body.

Although the closure device of this invention has been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes and modica; tions coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described our invention we claim.

l. A closure cap comprising, a cap body having a depending manginal ange, attaching lugs carried by said flange, diaphragm means in said cap body, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means, said cap bod f and said diaphragm means being relatively rotatable, and releasably cooperating elements on said cap body and diaphragm means and resisting relative rotation therebetween for initially maintaining said attaching lugs and said other lugs in a substantially aligned relation.

2. A closure cap comprising a cap body having a depending marginal flange, attaching lugs carried by said ilange, diaphragm means in said cap body, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means, said cap body and said diaphragm means being relatively rotatable, releasably cooperating holding elements on said cap body and diaphragm means and resisting relative rotation therebetween for initially maintaining said attaching lugs and said other lugs in a substantially aligned relation, and cooperable stops on said cap body and diaphragm means for interrupting the relative rotation therebetween.

3. A closure cap comprising, a cap body having a transverse top wall and a depending marginal flange, attaching lugs carried by said ange, diaphragm means in said cap body, lother lugs carried by said diaphragm means, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means, releasably cooperating holding elements on said cap body and diaphragm means and resisting the relative rotation of said cap body for initially maintaining said attaching lugs and said other lugs in a substantially aligned relation, and cooperable stops on said wall and diaphragm means for interrupting the relative rotation of said cap body, said cap body and dia'- phragm means being relatively movable axially of the closure cap and said stops being disengageable in response to relative axial separating movement between said cap body and diaphragm means.

4. A closure as dened in claim 3 in which said diaphragm means is resilient, and in which the relative axial annabee` Q U. movement between said cap body and diaphragm means` is responsive to flexing of the latter. l

5. A closurecap comprising, a cap body having a transverse wall and a depending marginal ilange, attaching lugs carried by said ange, an inner closure means connected with said cap body, diaphragm meansY in said cap body and lying adjacent said wall, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means, releasably cooperating projection and recess holding elements on said wall and diaphragm means for initially maintaining said attaching lugs and said other lugs in a substantially aligned relation, and spring means disposed between said inner closure means and said diaphragmmeans and effective on the latter for urging said holding elements to an engaged condition.

6. A closure device comprising, a ller neck having flange means providing an annular seat and carrying locking elements, a cap body cooperating with said neck and having a transverse wall and a depending marginal flange, attaching lugs carried by said marginal ange, said flange means having access openings therein affording access to said locking elements for said attaching lugs, diaphragm means in said cap body and engaging said annular seat, and other lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings for preventing rotation of said diaphragm means relative to said neck, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means for engaging said attaching lugs with said locking elements.

7. A closure device comprising, a ller neck having flange means providing an annular seat and carrying locking elements, a cap body cooperating with said neck and having a transverse wall and a depending marginal ange, attaching `lugs carried by said marginal flange, said ilange means having access openings therein aifording access to said locking elements for said attaching lugs, diaphragm means in said cap body and engaging said annular seat, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings for preventing rotation of said diaphragm means relative to said neck, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means for engaging said attaching lugs with said locking elements, and releasably cooperating holding elements on said cap body and diaphragm means and resisting relative rotation therebetween for initially maintaining said attaching lugs and said other lugs in a substantially aligned relation.

8. A closure `device comprising, a iiller neck having flange4 means providing anl annular seat and carrying locking elements, a cap body cooperating with said neck and having a transverse Wall and a depending marginal flange, attaching lugs carried by said marginal flange,Y said ange means having access openings therein aifording access to said locking elementstfor said attaching lugs, diaphragm means in said cap body and engaging said annular seat, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings for preventing rotation of said diaphragm means relative to said neck, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means for engaging and disengaging said attaching lugs with respect to said locking elements, and cooperable stop elements on said cap body and diaphragm means for interrupting the disengaging relative rotation of said cap body.

9. A closure device comprising, a iiller neck having iiange means providing an annular seat and carrying locking elements, a cap body cooperating with said neck and having a transverse wall and a depending marginal ange, attach-ing lugs carried by said marginal flange, said flange means having access openings therein affording access to said locking elements forsaid attaching lugs, diaphragm means in said cap body and engaging said annular seat, other .lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings 'for preventingro-` tation of said diaphragm means relative'to said'neck,Y

phragm means and resisting relative rotation therebe-V tween for initially maintaining said attaching lugs .and said other lugs in a substantially alignedrelation, and cooperable stop elements on said cap body and diaphragm means for interrupting the disengaging relative rotation of said cap body.

10. A closure kdevice comprising, a filler neck having axially spaced outer and inner ilanges providing outer and inner annular seats, locking elements on said outer flange, a cap body cooperating with said neck and having a transverse wall and a ldepending skirt, attaching lugs carried `by said skirt, said outer ilange having access openings therein affording access to said locking elements for said attaching ings, diaphragm means in saidrcap body and engaging said outer seat, inner closure means connected with said cap body and engaging said inner seat, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings for preventing rotation of said diaphragm means relative to said neck, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means for engaging and disengaging said attaching lugs with respect to said locking elements, releasably cooperating holding elements on said cap body :and diaphragm means and having an .engaged condition resisting relative rotation between said cap body and diaphragm means for initially maintaining said Iattaching lugs and said other lugs in a substantially aligned relation, and spring means disposed between said inner closure structure and said diaphragm' means, said spring means 'acting to urge said inner closure means toward said'inner sea-t and to urge said holding elements toward said engaged condition.

11. A closure device comprising, a ller neck having axially spaced outer and inner flanges providing outer and inner annular seats, locking elements on said outer ange, a cap body cooperating with said neck and having a transverse wall and a depending skirt, attaching lugs carried by said skirt, said outer flange having access openings therein affording access to said locking elements for said attaching lugs, diaphragm means in said cap body and engaging said outer seat, inner closure means connected with said cap-body and engaging said inner seat, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings for preventing rotation of said diaphragm means relative to said neck, said cap body being rotatable relative to sa-id diaphragm means for engaging and disengagin-g said attaching lugs with respect to said locking elements, releasably cooperating holding elements on said cap body and diaphragm means and having an engaged condition resisting relative rotation between said cap body and diaphragm means for initially maintaining said attaching lugs and said outer lugs in a substantially 'aligned relation, spring means disposed bet-WeenV said inner closure structure and said diaphragm means, said spring means acting to urge said inner closure means toward said inner seat and to urge said holding elements toward said engaged condition, and cooperable stops on said diaphragm means and transverse Wall for interrupting rotation of the cap body in the direction lfor d-isengaging said attaching lugs from said locking elements. A

12. A closure device as defined in claim 11 in which said diaphragm means is resilient-ly exible for ya relative axial movement between said transverse wall and the peripheral portion of said diaphragm means, and inv which the stop of said diaphram means is on said peripheral portion and isfdisengageable by the stop of said transverse wall in response to sa-id relative axial movement.

ananas "13:4 'All closure device comprising, a filler neck having angemeans providing 'an annular seat and carrying lock-` ing elements, af cap body `cooperating with said neck 4and.

having a transverse wall and a depending marginal ange, attaching lugs carried by said marginal flange, said ange means having accessv openings therein affording access to -said locking elements for said attaching lugs, diaphragm means in said cap body land engaging said annular seat, other lugs carried by said diaphragm means and engaging in said access openings for preventing rotation of said diaphragm means relative to said neck, said cap body being rotatable relative to said diaphragm means for engaging and disengaging said attaching lugs with respect to said locking elements, safety stop means on said flange means adjacent said access openings and engageable by Asaid attaching lugs for normally interrupting the disengaging relativerotation of said' capbody, said safety stop means being surmountable by said attaching lugs upon manual axial shifting of said cap body toward said ange means during said diseng-a-ging relative rotation, and other cooperable safety stop elements on said cap body and diaphragm means for normally interrupting disengaging relative rot-ation imparted to said cap body while the latter is in such an axially shifted relation toward said ange means, the interruption of said disengaging relative rotation of said cap body being releas-` 15. A closure device as `defined in claim 13 in which Y said other safety stop element are cam shaped'for a selfclearing action therebetween during rotation of said cap body in a direction for engaging said attaching lugs with said locking elements.

I16. A closure c-ap comprising, a cap body having -attaching means on the inner side thereof, an inner transverse member retained in said body, said body being rotatable and axially shiftable relative to said inner member, first and second pairs of cooperably engageable and disengageable elements carried -by and eective between said body and inner member for temporarily preventing such relative rotation, one pair of said elements being disengageable in response to :a manually lforced'rotation of said body relative to said inner member, the other pair of said elements being disengageable in response to a manually produced combined rotary and axial movement of said body relative to said inner member.

i 17. A closure cap cfor application to a fille-r neck having an lannular seat and access openings laterally outwardly of said seat comprising, .a cap body having la transverse wall and a depending marginal ilange, securing means carried by said ange for releasable zo-operation means urging said diaphragm means toward said wall to cause the yco-operable engagement of said stop elements but being yieldable to Vpermit limited axial separation between said wall and diaphragm means for the disengagement of said stop elements in response to a manually forced rotation of said body relative to said diaphragm means.

18. In a closure cap `for application to a filler neck having locking cams thereon and `access openings affording access to the cams, a cap body having a transaxially extendverse wall yand a depending marginal flange, securing means on said flange for locking and unlocking co-opera tion with said cams in response to locking and unlock ing rotation of said body relative to the neck, a transverse inner member retained in said body `adjacent said Wall yand having holding means engageable in said openings for preventing rotation of said inner member relative to the neck, said body being rotatable and axially -shiftable relative to said inner member for producing the locking and unlocking co-operation of said securing means with said cams, -and mutually co-operable stop elements on the axially adjacent sides of said Wall and inner member for interrupting the unlocking rotation of said body, said stop elements being relatively positionable for the interrupting co-operating engagement therebetween in response to a predetermined extent of manual axial shifting of the body toward the neck during the unlocking rotation of said body.

1.9. A closure cap as' defined in claim 18 `wherein said;

body"andr inner member are sheet metal members, and

wherein said-stop elements are axially projecting porwherein said stop elements are axially projecting portionsv of said transverse Wall and diaphragm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,214 Sentman Nov. 17, 1936 2,266,314 Eshbaugh Dec.t16, 1941 2,603,379

Friend July 15, 1952 

